Container with pull tab



y 11, 1965 H. E. WILKINSON 3,182,852

CONTAINER WITH PULL TAB 5 Filed March 27. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvszvronHARM/v [MA/8 w/zmvswv May 11, 1965 H. E. WILKINSON 3,182,852

CONTAINER WITH PULL TAB Filed March 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mar m1;MENTOR /fl x/mmv 0641? MIX/MSW! United States Patent tion of New JerseyFiled Mar. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 182,751 9 Claims. (Cl. 22054) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number58,392, filed September 26, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a hermetically sealed container or canhaving an easy open end which requires no tools for opening thecontainer.

The present invention is particularly adapted for containers or canssuch as are commonly used for canned beverages, juices, vegetables,meats and other edibles as well as other products packed in a vacuumizedor a pressurized container. One of the major problems in designing suchcontainers is to provide for easy opening of the container by simplypulling a tab which is an integral part of the container, and withoutthe need of extra can openers, knives or other tools. In addition tothis easy open feature, the container structure must be sufficientlystrong to withstand shock and static forces caused by vacuumizing orpressurizing in addition to the normal handling and shipping of thecontainer.

Past attempts to provide metal cans with easy opening ends generallyrequired the use of a separate tool or key for removal of a tear stripformed in the can end. With such devices, there is the problem of eitherproviding a free end on the tear strip which can be engaged by aseparate key or opening tool or permanently attaching a key or grippingmember to the tear strip, while simultaneously maintaining a hermeticseal at the can end. Moreover, in the manufacture of ends having a tearstrip with a key or tool permanently attached thereto, it is necessaryto first fashion the key or tool and thereafter weld or otherwise secureit to the end of the tear strip. This operation requires that the key ortool be held in a predetermined alignment with the tear strip. Whilesuch special positioning can be accomplished, it necessarily increasesthe manufacturing time and costs as well as requiring additionalmachinery and special equipment for aligning and assembling the variouscomponents.

The container end of the subject invention may be easily and quicklyopened without the need for a key or other opening tool. This result isachieved by providing a finger engageable tab which is an integral partof and r formed directly from the end panel, and which may be manuallypulled to tear away an integrally connected tear strip therebyseparating a central panel from the container end. The portion of theend from which the finger engageable tab is formed is hermeticallysealed by a seal patch of suitable material which is strong enough towithstand the normal forces encountered during processing, handling,shipping, etc. Moreover, fabrication and assembly of the component partsof the subject invention do not require any special positioning of theends, and the assembly of the ends to the container bodies may beaccomplished in the standard manner using the standard tools andequipment presently available for this purpose.

While the subject container has a wide field of use including thepackaging of liquid products, it has been found that some productspatter may occur when a container containing a liquid product isopened. The spatter is attributable to drops of product that normallyadhere to the end and are thrown off as the tear strip and central panelseparate from the end. This is the result of the fact that as the tearstrip is pulled and severed from the can 3,182,852 Patented May 11, 1965end, it twists and deforms in a manner which causes it to act somewhatlike a deflected spring. Consequently, when the tear strip is releasedfrom the end it tends to snap back to a neutral or undeflected positionand in so doing imparts a suddent movement to the central panel and thedrops of product adhering thereto. A modified form of the subjectinvention is designed to eliminate for the most part the product spatterresulting from this tear strip spring action.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide acontainer or can end which overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies andproblems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container or canend with a finger engageable tab and its associated tear strip formanually removing a separable portion of the can end from the remainderof the end with no need for a key or other tool.

Another object is to provide such a can end wherein the fingerengageable tab and its associated tear strip are parts of the same metalpanel which forms the can end.

A further object is to provide such a can end wherein spatter of liquidcontents adhering to the can end when it is opened is minimized.

Still a further object is to provide such a can end which can be easilyand inexpensively manufactured at high rates of production.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hermetically sealed containershowing the easy open feature of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional partial view taken along the line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the end showing the tab portion lifted from theplane of the separable portion during the initial opening of thecontainer;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a container and the separable portionremoved therefrom and further showing the patch being carried by theseparable portion;

FIG. 5 is a top view of a can showing a modified form of the easy openend of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view in reduced size showing the can end of FIG.5 in the openedposition and before the tear strip is separatedtherefrom;

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of a can showing another modified form ofthe invention.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIG. 1shows a container comprising a body 10 and a container end 11 secured tothe body 10 and therewith forming the sealed enclosure or container.

The container end 11 is constructed from a sheet of material ofpredetermined low tearability value, in this instance provided by thematerial being metal of a preset thickness. End 11 has an internalsurface 12 and an external surface 13. The sheet of material has anendless outer or first score line 14 impressed in one surface, in thisinstance outer surface 13, to provide a frangible line of decreasedthickness and higher or increased tearability value. This endless outeror first score line 14 divides the sheet into a separable portion 15within the score line 14 and a peripheral portion 16 without the scoreline 14 adapted to be secured to the body 10. The separable portion 15includes a tear strip 17 terminating in a tab 18 which is preferablydisposed in the center of the separable portion 15. The outer score line14, as illustrated in FIG. 1, defines the shape of an opening desired tobe made in the container for removing the contents therefrom and ispreferably circular when the container is round or generallycylindrical.

The separable portion has a first point and a second score line 21impressed in a surface, in this instance the outer surface 13, to definea frangible line of decreased thickness and higher or increasedtearability value. This second score line 21 is illustrated as mergingwith the outer score line 14 and extending inwardly from the first scoreline 14 to the first point 20. The first point 20 is closer to thecenter of the separable portion 15 than any part of the first score line14, and the second score line 21 preferably curves into the first scoreline '14 as it merges therewith.

The sheet of material also has a third or inner score line 22 impressedin a surface, in this instance the outer surface 13, to define afrangible line of decreased thickness and higher or increasedtearability value. The inner score line is disposed entirely in theseparable portion 15 and is preferably though not necessarily spacedfrom the first and second score lines 14 and 21 respectivelysubstantially an equal distance throughout its extent. Thus, the inneror third score line extends parallel to the outer and second score linesor concentric with the outer score line when the outer score line is acircle for at least a part of its length. This third score line 21extends from a second point 23 which is spaced from and in closeproximity with the first point 20 to a third point 24 spaced from and inclose proximity with the location of merging of the first and secondscore lines 14 and 21. The third score line 22 is completely free ofmerging with both the first and second score lines 14 and 21 and ispositioned entirely in the separable portion 15. The third score line 22defines one side of the tear strip while the first score line 14 and thesecond score line 21 cooperatively define the opposite side of the tearstrip.

As is further illustrated in the drawings one end 25 of the tear stripintegrally joins with or merges with the remainder of the separableportion 15 and is free of score lines or other means capable of invitinga tearing of the separable portion 15. This end 25 is at the region ofmerging of the first and second score lines 14 and 21 and is formed byhaving the inner third score line 22 stop at the third point 24 so asnot to merge with or cross the second score line 21.

The tab 18 is defined by a slit 30 which extends en- I tirely throughthe entire thickness of the separable portion 15 and also extends fromthe first point 20 to the second point 23.

Sealingly aflixed to one of the surfaces of the separable portion 15, inthis instance the internal surface 12 and overlying the tab portion 18and the slit 30 is a patch 31. The patch 31 may be of any suitablematerial compatible with and atfixable to the material from which theend 11 is made, for example, a continuous imperforate inert film, or asheet of the same material as the end. The patch 31 is of larger areathan the tab 18 and is sealingly affixed to the separable portion 15entirely about the tab 18 and entirely about the slit 30 so as tocompletely cover the tab 18, slit 30 and hermetically seal thecontainer. The patch 31 is sealingly affixed to the separable portion 15by bonding, adhering, soldering, welding, glueing, heat sealing,vulcanizing or any other well-known method of fastening the partstogether for the purpose. The patch 31 is spaced from and therebycompletely free of engagement with and securement to the peripheralportion 16. The patch 31 is atfixed to a portion of the tear stripdisposed between the second and third score lines 21 and 22.

In opening the container a person simply moves or bends the tab 18 fromthe plane of the separable portion 15 and the plane of the end 25 bybending the tear strip. This positions the finger engageable tab 18 asillustrated in FIG. 3 such that it may be conveniently gripped andpulled easily away from the container body so as to cause tearing alongthe second and third score lines 21 and 22 until the second score line21 is completely torn, and then continued tearing along the inner andouter or first and third score lines 14 and 22. Continued pulling asillustrated in FIGURE 4 causes tearing entirely around the periphery ofthe separable portion 15 and throughout the extent of the first or outerscore line 14. In this way, the separable portion 15, including its tearstrip 17, tab 18 and the sealing patch 31 are completely removed andseparated from the peripheral portion remaining on the container body.Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4 the separable portion 15 including thepatch 31 is completely removed and an opening of a size and shape asdefined by the outer or first score line 14 is provided for removal ofthe contents from the container.

The modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 thru 7 minimizes thetendency for and the amount of undesirable spattering of the contents asthe container is opened by substantially confining the spatter effect tothe tear strip only. Referring to FIG. 5, the separable portion 15 ofthe can end 11 has a main panel 34 and a tear strip 35 terminating in acentrally disposed elongated tab 36. The first score line 14 and thesecond score line 21 which extends from the first point 20 and mergeswith the first score line cooperatively define one boundary of the tearstrip in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment of theinvention. The other boundary of the tear strip 35 is defined by a thirdor inner score line 37 and a fourth score line 38 which are positionedentirely within the separable portion 15.

The third score line 37 extends outwardly from the second point 23 in aspaced relationship from the second score line 21 and then substantiallyparallel with the first score line 14 for the major portion of theperiphery of the separable portion 15 to a point 39. The fourth scoreline 38 merges smoothly with the third score line 37 at the point 39 andcontinues outwardly towards but does not intersect the first score line14 to leave a small unscored gap 40 therebetween. Preferably, the gap 40is in the range of ,4 of an inch for aluminum alloy ends having an .008"thickness. It is to be understood, however, that the magnitude of thegap 40 may be varied depending upon the type and thickness of thematerial from which the end 11 is formed. The gap 40 is generally spaceda predetermined distance from the second score line 21 as will be morefully discussed hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the fourth score line 38 is initially tangentto the third score line 37 at the point 39 and curves smoothly outwardlytherefrom to terminate in a position extending substantially radially ofthe end. However, it is to be understood that the curvature of thefourth score line 38 is .a matter of choice, the importantconsiderations being that it merge smoothly with the third score line 37and terminate short of intersecting the first score line 14 to form theunscored gap 40. For example, in a further modification shown in FIG. 8,the fourth score line 38 is substantially a straight line tangent to thethird score line 37 at the point 39 and extending towards the outer orfirst score line 14.

The tab 36 which is defined by a modified U-shaped slit 43 extendingthrough the entire thickness of the separable portion 15 from the firstpoint 20 to the second point 23 is generally disposed slightly above theplane of the main panel 34 of the separable portion. Preferably, the tab36 is substantially centrally positioned on the end 11 and issufiiciently large to permit a person to conveniently and easily grip itin order to pull and sever the tear strip 35 from the end 11. The patch31 which is sealingly affixed to the internal surface 12 of the end 11completely covers the tab 36 and slit 43 to hermetically seal the end inthe same manner as in the preferred embodiment previously described.

The tab 36 has an elongated depressed rib or bead 44 formed therein torigidity and strengthen the tab. The

bottom surface 45 of the rib'44is disposed substantially in the plane ofthe main panel 34 and adhesively secured to the patch 31 to maintain thetab 36 in a position closely adjacent the patch 31 as shown in FIG. 6.The tab 36 terminates in an upturned lip 46 to facilitate the insertionof a fingernail thereunder for lifting the tab and breaking the bondbetween the patch 31 and the adjacent surface 45 of the rib 44.

Preferably, as the tab 36 is formed, it is struck with a hard blow orotherwise worked to cause it to spread out somewhat and have lateraldimensions greater than the opening in the separable portion 15 definedby the slit 43. For example, in forming the lip 46, the metal adjacentthereto may be flattened slightly to increase the dimensions of the tab36 adjacent the lip. When the tab 36 is thus formed, the edges of themain panel 34 formed by the slit 43 interfere with the passage of thetab through the opening in the separable portion defined by the slit.This insures against accidental pressing of the tab 36 into thecontainer thereby breaking the patch 31 and allowing the contents toescape from the container.

In opening the container illustrated in FIGS. 5 thru 8, the tab 36 isfirst lifted by the finger of a user to break the bond between the-tabsurf-ace 45 and patch 31 and positioning the tab for easy fingerengagement on both surfaces of the tab. Thereafter the tab is grippedand pulled outwardly away from the container so as to cause tearing ofthe end 11 along the score lines 21, 14 and 37.

After the tear strip 35 has been pulled away to the point 39, tearingproceeds along the score lines 38 and 14 during which period, due to theoutward direction of the tearing action, the main panel 34 of theseparable portion 15 is lifted upwardly from the plane of the end withthe hinge action being along the unsevered portion of the first or outerscore line 14. When the tearing action has reached the gap 40 so thatthe tear strip is joined to the remainder of the separable portion 15only along the unscored gap 40, further pulling of the tab 36 causescontinued tearing along the first score line 14 and further lifting ofthe main panel 34.

After tearing along the score line 14 has proceeded to a point 47intermediate the gap and the point at which the second score line 21merges with the first score line 14, the main panel approaches avertical position and a natural increased pull is required to continuewith the tearing action along the score line 14, (FIG. 7). Thisincreased force and a natural twist in the tear strip 35 causes theunscored gap 40 to break, freeing the tear strip from the main panel 34but leaving the main panel attached to the peripheral portion 16 of theend 11 along a short length of the first score line 14 and inapproximately a vertical position. After the tear strip 35 has beenremoved, the main panel 34 can be removed if desired by manuallygrasping and rocking it whereupon the unsevered portion of the firstscore line 14 is easily and quickly ruptured.

To achieve the action described. the width of the gap 40 and the spacingbetween the gap 40 and the point at which the second score line 21merges with the first score line 14 will depend upon the type andthickness of .the material, depth of scoring, etc. In each case, apreferred gap width and spacing may be determined by test to result inrupture of the tear strip 35 along the unscored gap 40 after the mainpanel 34 has been raised to approximately a vertical position but isstill joined to the peripheral portion 16 of the can end 11 by a shorteasily rupturable length of the first score line 14.

With the modified container construction, the springing action whichcauses the undesirable product spatter would be limited to the tearstrip 35 only. Since the surface area of the tear strip 35 is relativelysmall in relation to that of the main panel 34, most of the productadherence to the separable portion 15 is confined to the main panel. Asa result, very little spatter occurs when the tear strip 35 is separatedfrom the main panel 34. Moreover, the

6 main panel is left in a raised position whereby the contents of thecontainer can be easily removed. Also, with the main panel in the raisedposition it can be easily grasped thereby enabling the user to remove itwhen and if desired by a mere twist.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A metal hermetic end closure for a container having a body, said endclosure comprising a central panel of a thin readily tearable material,a peripheral portion integral with said panel and sealingly engaged toan end of said body, a first score line extending around at least a partof the periphery of said panel adjacent said peripheral portion, asecond score line merging with said first score line and extendinginwardly of said panel, a third score line spaced from said first andsecond score lines and jointly therewith defining a continuous tearstrip having an end disposed inwardly of said panel and extending aroundat least a part of the periphery of said panel, a

cut-through portion in said panel defining a manually engageable tabintegrally joined to the inwardly disposed end of said tear strip, saidtab being sufficiently large to be firmly gripped by the fingers of auser whereby said tab may be pulled to separate said tear strip fromsaid panel along said second and third score lines and then along saidfirst and third score lines, seal patch means secured to a surface ofsaid panel and extending completely over said cut-through portion toseal the same, said seal patch means being releasably secured to atleast a portion of said tab thereby preventing inadvertent displacementof said tab but permitting said tab to be manually disengaged therefrom,and a fourth score line forming a continuation of said third score lineand extending towards without intersecting said first score line wherebyas said tab is further pulled to separate said tear strip from saidcentral panel along said first and fourth score lines the central panelis lifted upwardly.

2. The end closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth score lineis arcuate.

3. The end closure set forth in claim 1 wherein said fourth score lineis a straight line tangent to said third score line.

4. The end closure set forth in claim 1 having a predetermined gapbetween said first seore line and the termination point of said fourthscore line and a predetermined spacing between said termination pointand the point at which said second score line merges with said firstscore line whereby said tear strip separates from said central panel byrupture of the unscored material at said 'gap after said central panelis lifted upwardly and while said central panel is still joined to saidperipheral portion along an unruptured length of said first score line.

5. A metal end closure for a container adapted to be manually openedwithout requiring the use of a special opening tool or implement, saidend closure comprising a central panel of a thin readily tearablematerial, a first score line dividing said panel into a separableportion within and a peripheral portion without said first score line, asecond score line merging with said first score line and extendinginwardly of said separable portion, a third score line disposed entirelyin said separable portion, a slit in said separable portion extendingthrough the thickness of said panel between the inwardly disposed end ofsaid second score line and an inwardly directed end of said third scoreline, said slit defining manually engageable tab means sufiicientlylarge to be pullingly gripped by the t fingers of a user, said tab meansand said separable porportion defined by said slit, said third scoreline cooperating with said first and second score lines to jointlytherewith define a continuous removable tear strip having an inwardlydisposed end terminating in said tab means and extending around at leasta part of the periphcry of said separable portion, and seal patch meansallixed to said separable portion to form a hermetic seal therewith andcompletely overlying said slit and said tab means, said seal patch meansbeing disposed entirely within and spaced from and free of engagementwith said peripheral portion, said tab means having a finger-engageableportion removed from the plane of said central panel and another portiondisposed in the plane of said central panel and releasably affixed tosaid seal patch means thereby preventing the inadvertent displacement ofsaid tab means but permitting said tab means to be manually disengagedtherefrom and pulled upwardly to sever said tear strip from said paneland open said container.

6. An end closure for a container having a body, said end comprising acentral panel. a peripheral portion integral with said panel and adaptedto engage one end of said body, a first pair of spaced score linesextending around the periphery of said panel adjacent said peripheralportion, a slit extending through the thickness of said central panelpartially surrounding and separating a portion of said panel spacedinwardly of said first pair of score lines to form a pull tab acontinuous imperforate inert film adhesively covering said slit to sealthe same, said film being releasably secured to at least a portion ofsaid tab thereby preventing inadvertent displacement of said tab butpermitting said tab to be manually disengaged therefrom, a second pairof spaced score lines defining the unsevered portion of said tab andextending outwardly from said tab toward said peripheral portion, saidsecond pair of score lines merging with said first pair of score linesto jointly form therewith a continuous tear strip whereby upon manuallyfreeing said tab from said film and pulling the same, the scoredportions of said panel are severed thereby separating said tear stripfrom said panel, and a score line forming a continuation of the inwardlydisposed one of said first pair of score lines and extending towardswithout intersecting the other of said first pair of score lines wherebyas said tab is further pulled to sever said panel along saidcontinuation score line the central panel is lifted away from saidperipheral portion.

7. The end closure set forth in claim 6 having said central paneldisposed substantially in a flat plane and wherein said tab is providedwith a portion disposed in the plane of said central panel and affixedto said sealing film and another portion disposed in a plane spaced fromthe plane of said central panel.

8. The end closure set forth in claim 6 wherein said tab and saidcentral panel have cooperative means to prevent the passage of said tabthrough said central panel and into said sealing film.

9. The end closure set forth in claim 6 wherein said tab is providedwith a finger engageable portion removed from the plane of the centralpanel and a portion disposed in the plane of said central panel andaffixed to said sealing film.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,643,958 10/27Rooney 220-54 1,737,020 11/29 Peters 220-54 1,955,431 4/34 Lymburner220-54 2,011,778 8/35 Sebell .a 220-54 2,112,231 3/38 Speidel 220-542,787,394 4/57 Baumann 215-46 2,946,478 7/60 Clair et al. 220-54FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

1. A METAL HERMETIC END CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER HAVING A BODY, SAID ENDCLOSURE COMPRISING A CENTRAL PANEL OF A THIN READILY TEARABLE MATERIAL,A PERIPHERAL PORTION INTEGRAL WITH SAID PANEL AND SEALINGLY ENGAGED TOAN END OF SAID BODY, A FIRST SCORE LINE EXTENDING AROUND AT LEAST A PARTOF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL ADJACENT SAID PERIPHERAL PORTION, ASECOND SCORE LINE MERGING WITH SAID FIRST SCORE LINE AND EXTENDINGINWARDLY OF SAID PANEL, A THIRD SCORE LINE SPACED FROM SAID FIRST ANDSECOND SCORE LINES AND JOINTLY THEREWITH DEFINING A CONTINUOUS TEARSTRIP HAVING AN END DISPOSED INWARDLY OF SAID PANEL AND EXTENDING AROUNDAT LEAST A PART OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL, A CUT-THROUGH PORTION INSAID PANEL DEFINING A MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE TAB INTEGRALLY JOINED TO THEINWARDLY DISPOSED END OF SAID TEAR STRIP, SAID TAB BEING SUFFICIENTLYLARGE TO BE FIRMLY GRIPPED BY THE FINGERS OF AUSER WHEREBY SAID TAB MAYBE PULLED TO SEPARATE SAID TEAR STRIP FROM SAID PANEL ALONG SAID SECONDAND THIRD SCORE LINES AND THEN